June 30, 2023

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Strongly Condemns SCOTUS Decision to Invalidate President Biden’s Student Debt Relief Plan

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12) issued the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down President Biden’s student debt relief program in Department of Education v. Brown.

“By invalidating President Biden’s historic student loan debt relief plan, this corrupt, right-wing court is dealing a major setback to reaching economic parity in this country. Millions of borrowers have had to wait in economic limbo for nearly a year as opponents of debt relief use the court as a tool to enact their far-right agenda. Let’s be clear: the President’s debt relief plan is a legal, appropriate use of the HEROES Act to prevent the widespread economic harm that will result once payments resume. 

“Having raised two sons and put them through college as a single mom, I know firsthand how the burden of student loan debt can impact a person’s life. We cannot accept a return to the failed status quo, especially one that continues to disproportionately impact Black and brown communities. I strongly urge the Biden administration to use the tools at his disposal to cancel student debt regardless of SCOTUS’ decision to ignore the letter of the law in this backwards decision.”